Friday, November 25, 2022

Movie #2206 ........................."Santa Bootcamp" (Lifetime)

 Movie #2206 "Santa Bootcamp" (Lifetime)  This is one of the least plausible story I've come across in a while blogging on these Hallmark xmas films --- that's probably because I weed out all the ones that have some magic or a santa clause flying in a swanky buick (like this one) by the end of the movie.  This one slipped past me because the lead girl and guy were so cute.  But really, a Santa bootcamp?  And that part was pretty boring what they put these future "elves" through --- And Rita Moreno, who is an excellent actress, is wasted in this one, rolling her eyes and forced to say some lame dialogue --- So the first half is full of  a bunch of scenes with a loudmouth second- in- command barking orders at the lead girl who seems to take everything to heart. All she wants to get out of this experience is a good santa and some renewed interest in the spirit of Christmas.  By the end of the movie she starts to believe in magic -- at the beginning she says, " there are a lot of things not magical but a white xmas is "  and I thought that was insightful --- that there's something about the spirit of the season that works magically, and it doesn't have to be a flying santa clause or elves wrapping gifts, etc.  So I thought there'd be hope in this film, and I did like most of it until the very very end, with santa flying off into the sunset (or clouds or wherever) --- that's a huge "flight of fancy" for this watcher.  The love story and the leads were winning so I would give this one a 3.5 -- Rita gets more to do in the second half.

"SANTA BOOTCAMP"   Lifetime   2022

Hired by shopping mall magnate Ed Mancini to host a Christmas gala for his biggest investors, Emily heads to Santa Bootcamp - to find the perfect Santa and the inspiration she'll need to make the evening a success.

Director:  Melissa Joan Hart

Writer:  Michael J. Murray

Actors:  Rita Moreno, Emily Kinney, Marissa Jareet Winokur, Justin Gaston

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